Fat Tuesday to return ‘in full form’
Organisers of the Hastings Fat Tuesday (HFT) music festival in February/March next year have announced that it will return “in its full form” following a depleted programme in 2024.
There will be five full days “of music and mayhem”, starting with a Grand Mardi Gras Ball at the White Rock Theatre on Friday 28 February and climaxing with the usual multi-gig fiesta on Shrove Tuesday 4 March.
Early bird tickets for the Ball are already on sale (£29.50 each) at the White Rock. The line-up includes Rioghnach Connolly and Honeyfeet plus New Orleans-style band Mr Wilson’s Second Liners (see picture) and veteran electronic dance music DJs Justin Robertson and Jon Carter.
New for 2025 there’ll also be a late night party in the White Rock Theatre Studio featuring Lemur Beats (house, techo, afro-disko, “twisted global funk” and more) and a Best Dressed Competition.
Main funding for the festival will be provided by Arts Council England. Southern Water and drinks company LWC have also pledged to chip in, but the HFT organisers admit that their budget is still short. They are asking for additional donations, either added to ball ticket payments or through a renewed crowdfunder. The aim is to keep the main elements of the festival – including community and school umbrella workshops, the family parade and main music tours on the Saturday and Tuesday – free of charge, as well as supporting the 500+ musicians expected to perform over the five days.
For donations (and promotional videos), scan the qr-code or visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hastings-fat-tuesday-music-festival-2025
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